The English batsman Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the draft for the Afghan Premier League (APL), the BBC has learned. Pope was set to be the only English player with a central contract competing in the first edition of the tournament, which is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
Pope made the decision to withdraw from the draft, which takes place later this month, independently of the stance taken by Rob Key, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). A no-objection certificate from the ECB is required for any English player to participate. As Pope is a contracted player, Key would be involved in the decision-making process regarding his availability for the APL.
Key stated on Monday, when the latest English contracts were confirmed, that he personally would not play in the APL, but that it was legally difficult to prevent English players from participating. "It is legally difficult to stop players from going and playing in these competitions," Key told the Test Match Special podcast. "It becomes a matter of moral judgment and players must be prepared to take a moral stand." He added, "Personally, and it is easy for me to say, I would not go and play. But it is up to the player to make that decision."
The ECB has refrained from scheduling bilateral matches with Afghanistan since the Taliban retook control of the country in 2021. Last year, ECB chairman Richard Thompson described the Taliban's oppression of women and girls as "gender apartheid". England, however, continued to play against Afghanistan in global tournaments, including world championships in both limited-overs formats. "I do not agree with the way women are treated in Afghanistan," said Key. "The way things are going on there is not something I agree with, so it is not something I would go and do."
Pope was awarded a new 12-month contract despite not having played international cricket since the third Ashes Test in Australia last December. He was called up to the test team for the series against Pakistan during the domestic summer and has been captain on six occasions, including against India at The Oval in 2025. When asked if Pope had been made clear on his feelings, Key replied: "I have had that conversation and Ollie will have to make his decision."
Prior to the last match between England and Afghanistan, at the 2025 Champions Trophy, Labour MP Tony Abbott led calls for a boycott of the game. In September, he told BBC Sport: "Why are we here again? Women and girls in Afghanistan are denied the same rights as those in our country, and the women's team is in exile." He added: "Is it not worrying for the players, especially those with daughters, sisters, or mothers?" Abbott expressed hope that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would reject the event, stating that allowing full membership for Afghanistan was a mockery of its own membership criteria.
The former English batsman Dawid Malan has been entered into the APL draft, alongside players such as Moeen Ali, James Vince, and James Rew. Rew, from Somerset, made his debut in test cricket in June. Malan told the TMS podcast: "As players, we look to the ICC and the board for guidance." He explained: "As a player, it is difficult because there is a difference between what is morally right and what is legal. I have a daughter and I want her to be able to play sport and enjoy it. I fully understand the argument, but in the end, I am a cricketer and I need to be able to pay my rent and earn a living while I can."
Malan highlighted: "England does not play bilateral series against Afghanistan, but plays against them in world championships – what is the difference? As players, we sometimes wish the board would make a decision that says 'we do not think this is right, we are taking a stand', then players would accept that. I think no one is in agreement with what is happening in Afghanistan, but when something is approved, we sit as players and say: 'This is work, I must play and do what is required', so we find ourselves in a position between what is morally right and what is not."
On Friday, Dean Ahmad, the agent representing Moeen, wrote on X: "Morality in sport is important, but so is consistency." He added: "The Taliban's treatment of women is indefensible. And yet, why are cricketers singled out while governments and corporations maintain ties with states accused of serious human rights violations. Selective outrage is not morality."
